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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) announced today, September 26, the complete film lineups in all sections, as well as the jury members, and highlights of this year’s 30th anniversary edition.

At a press conference at Roppongi Academyhills in Tokyo, Festival Director Takeo HISAMATSU, presiding over his first TIFF, delivered opening remarks and emphasized the festival’s vision for the future. The Opening, Special Opening Presentation and Closing Films were introduced. TIFF’s programing directors then took the stage to introduce the lineup for each section of the 30th edition.

In the Competition section, 15 films* were selected from among 1,538 titles from 88 countries and regions. Guests from the two titles representing Japan, director Takahisa ZEZE and actresses Ayano MORIGUCHI, Kokone SASAKI and Aina YAMADA, from The Lowlife, and director Akiko OOKU from Tremble All You Want, were welcomed on the stage and made remarks (see next page for more).

Opening & Closing Films

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is pleased to announce the Special Screenings Section lineup, including the Opening and Closing Films for its 30th anniversary edition. Fullmetal Alchemist, directed by Fumihiko Sori and starring Ryosuke Yamada, will open the festival on October 25, and An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, directed by Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen and featuring former US Vice President Al Gore, will close the festival on November 3.

In addition, as the 30th TIFF’s Special Opening Presentation, we will screen highlights from the upcoming release Legend of the Demon Cat, the largest-ever Japan-China co-production, directed by Chen Kaige and starring Shota Sometani during the Opening Ceremony.

International Competition Jury

This year’s International Competition Jury members were also announced. Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Tommy Lee JONES will serve as Jury President, working with French director Martin PROVOST, Iranian filmmaker Reza MIRKARIMI, Chinese actress-director Zhao WEI, and Japanese actor Masatoshi NAGASE.

Marking the 100th anniversary of Japanese animation this year, renowned director Keiichi HARA chosen in honor of his exceptional body of work for The World of Keiichi Hara in the Animation Focus section, greeted the audience after the retrospective lineup was announced. He will appear at panel sessions with special guests following his TIFF screenings.

10 Days, 200+ Films

During the 10-day celebration, over 200 films will be screened and there will be unique film-related events every day at the festival venues, including stage appearances, Q&A sessions and symposia featuring celebrated guests from around the world.

The 30th TIFF will take place October 25 to November 3, 2017 at Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi (Minato City) and other theaters, halls and facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

14 Sections/Categories:

Competition
TIFF’s principal section and the highlight of the film festival, the Competition showcases feature films that were completed after January 2017. Fifteen (15) films from around the world will be selected for screening at the festival. The International Competition Jury of five international cineastes will award the Tokyo Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Artistic Contribution and Best Screenplay Award. The winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony.Asian Future
“From Asia to the World and to the future!” Asian Future showcases films by emerging directors who have directed up to three feature films. Outstanding works from the Asian region, which includes Japan and the Middle East, will be selected for the festival. Members of some films’ crew and casts will be invited to participate in festival events and industry networking sessions. “Best Asian Future Film Award” and “The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center” will be awarded to the winners.Japanese Cinema Splash
Japanese Cinema Splash promotes the best in Japanese independent films to a world audience. The section showcases exceptionally unique, creative and challenging films from the evolving Japanese film industry, regardless of the stage of the directors’ careers. The selected films will be actively promoted not only to the general public but also to international film festival programmers, press and film buyers from overseas.Special Screenings
The Special Screenings section shows high-profile films, both domestic and international, that have not been released in Japan. The glamorous Opening and Closing screenings are a part of this line-up. Many of the invited guests associated with the films will attend the celebrations, including the Red Carpet Ceremony, and make stage appearances.

World Focus
World Focus showcases internationally acclaimed films by noted directors that have recently been completed but not yet released in Japan. The section features films that have created a sensation on the international film festival circuit. More than half of the films screened in World Focus are later released in Japanese theaters.

Crosscut Asia
The Japan Foundation Asia Center’s Crosscut Asia series showcases Asian films with a focus on particular countries, directors, actors or themes. Following the first, second, and third editions in which the series showcased works from Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, CROSSCUT ASIA will feature films from various Southeast Asian filmmakers this year in commemoration of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary. The fourth edition will be providing audiences with the opportunity to see the lineage of Southeast Asian filmmaking as works from next-generation Southeast Asian filmmakers are featured at the recommendations of auteurs such as the Philippines’ Brillante Ma. Mendoza, Vietnam’s Tran Anh Hung, and Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul.Japanese Classics
Japanese Classics features digitally restored Japanese films yesteryear, providing an opportunity for new audiences to experience the many masterpieces from the industry’s golden eras. Beautifully restored Japanese classics will be screened at the striking Kabukiza Theater. The vivid restoration of these films emphasizes their power and beauty.

The World of Keiichi Hara
A showcase celebrating the 30th anniversary of Keiichi Hara's directorial debut includes talks with Hara.

Japan Now
Japan Now employs a unique perspective in selecting a group of films that represents today’s Japan. For the international audience, they will provide insight into the aesthetics and culture of contemporary Japan; while for the Japanese audience, they will provide a comprehensive view of Japanese cinema today. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the festival, the Japan Now section will also highlight the achievements of (in alphabetical order), Sakura Ando, Yu Aoi, Hikari Mitsushima, and Aoi Miyazaki, the four Japan Now Silver Screen Muses of today’s Japanese cinema.

TIFF Youth
TIFF Youth was established with a view to introducing the joys of cinema to the next generation. In the TIFF 2017: Teens Meet Cinema workshop, participating junior high students made films together, and their impressive work will be screened during the festival. TIFF Children will be showing silent classics with live performances. Children and their parents alike are sure to enjoy the events. TIFF Teens, focusing on adolescent characters and themes, will spotlight films that have earned international film festival acclaim. The experience of seeing youth from different worlds on a big screen is sure to have an indelible impact on young viewers, and it is TIFF’s belief that such experiences will help cultivate a new generation of avid cinemagoers.

Mid-night Film Festival
The Midnight Film Festival will be held on October 28 just before Halloween in Roppongi. Films from various genres will be on 6 different screens back-to-back one night.A Tribute to the Musical
(supported by STAR CHANNEL)
This part of the program pays tribute to musicals, both old and new, that energize audiences with songs that stay with them long after the credits have rolled.The World of Steven Soderbergh
(supported by American Airlines
A new special program, focusing on filmmakers from America will be launched this year with the support of American Airlines. The inaugural program features Steven Soderbergh, one of America's most influential filmmakers.

Film Treasures from George Eastman Museum
George Eastman Museum was opened in 1949 as the film and photography archive in Rochester, NY. Be the first to witness the American masterpieces from the golden age of the 20s and 30s.

About Me

Art Bloggerwas born in Manila; currently living in Parañaque City, Philippines. He is a teacher/ writer/ blogger/ translator/ editor/ proofreader/ calligrapher/ abstract artist. A proud graduate of De La Salle University (Manila).